Storm briefs

Saturday

Apr 30, 2011 at 10:08 PM

Dealing with property or vehicle damageBusinesses and individuals with damage to property or vehicles need to contact their independent insurance agent or the insurer directly to begin the claim process. In Tuscaloosa, some insurance companies have set up mobile claims centers.Here are the locations of the mobile claims centers, as well as contact numbers and other information:-- ALFA — Tuscaloosa County offices, except the McFarland Boulevard office, are open and accepting claims. Call 800-964-2532 or go online to www.alfainsurance.com. n Allstate — mobile claims center has been set up at the Kmart parking lot, 635 Skyland Blvd., today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekdays 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Call 800-54-STORM or go online to www.Allstate.com.-- State Farm — taking claims at Lowes, 4900 Oscar Baxter Drive, Tuscaloosa. Call 800-732-5246 to make an appointment. --Farmers' — mobile command center has been set up at Home Depot, 1601 13th Ave. E. Customers with damage should call Farmers' 24-hour-claims hotline at 800-435-7764 for immediate assistance. Also, the Department of Insurance will staff its offices from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. today to handle inquiries from consumers. The contact number is 334-269-3550. There are also email links and complaint forms available on the Department's website at www.aldoi.gov.

Verizon Wireless mobile stationsVerizon Wireless has set up mobile communication stores in Tuscaloosa and Pleasant Grove to help area residents contact family, friends and loved ones. The mobile communication stores are equipped with fully functional devices, so residents without working cell phones can contact family, friends and loved ones free of charge from the company's pool of working handsets. The store features a battery charging station that allows customers to charge their cellphones and smartphones.Verizon Wireless has two mobile communication stores operating in the parking lot of the Verizon retail store in Tuscaloosa (2340 McFarland Blvd. E). The Verizon retail store in that location is also open and operating on generator power. A third mobile communication store is operating at the Pleasant Grove Athletics Complex (959 Fourth Street, Pleasant Grove), and fourth is set up at Hill's Foodland Grocery near the most damaged section of Pleasant Grove (851 Park Road).These mobile communication resources will serve residents Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. and on Sunday from noon-6 p.m.

Chamber, Shelton set up help centersThe Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and Shelton State Community College are setting up multiple emergency business assistance centers in Tuscaloosa.Businesses that have been displaced or have issues stemming from the storm damage should call Stacey Gann with the chamber at 205-758-7588 for a needs assessment and placement. The centers include free phone and Internet service, computer usage and basic office essentials.Businesses in need of warehouse or storage space should call the Tuscaloosa County Industrial Development Authority at 205-349-1414.The chamber encourages any business not able to operate to take advantage of this assistance to communicate with customers and employees.

Response center open in state CapitolThe Governor's Recovery Response Center was activated Friday in the state Capitol as a central resource to help citizens obtain the information and resources they need in the aftermath of the storm. Alabamians with questions regarding state government assistance can call the toll free number 1-866-465-2241 and speak directly with someone who can assist them with their needs.This call center is operating as a phone-bank only, and calls will be answered daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Concerned citizens who wish to volunteer their time or make donations can volunteer through the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at 877-273-5018 or www.servealabama.gov.

Those who lost jobs may qualify for helpAnyone who lost his or her job directly as a result of recent storms and flooding in eight Alabama counties may qualify for disaster unemployment assistance, according to the Alabama Department of Industrial Relations.Workers who lost their jobs directly as a result of severe severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in Tuscaloosa, Cullman, DeKalb, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Marshall and Walker counties since April 15 may qualify.Industrial Relations Director Tom Surtees said the disaster unemployment assistance program was triggered when President Barack Obama on Thursday designated those counties as major disaster areas.Those who may be eligible include anyone who: no longer has a job, was unable to reach his or her job or was scheduled to start work in the major disaster area and the job no longer exists; the breadwinner or major supporter of a family because the head of household died; cannot work because of an injury suffered during the disaster.Self-employed individuals must show a copy of their 2010 income tax records, Surtees said.Claims can be filed at the DIR's website at www.dir.alabama.gov or by calling 1-866-234-5382. The deadline to file a DUA claim is May 30.

Medicaid informationThe Alabama Medicaid agency has started emergency procedures to help clients affected by Wednesday's tornadoes.The agency said its procedures will ensure that recipients in areas affected by tornadoes can get covered medical services and prescriptions.Medicaid recipients should work with pharmacies to get emergency 72-hour supplies of covered outpatient prescription drugs, the agency said in a statement. Pharmacies can contact Health Information Designs, Medicaid's prior authorization contractor, at 800-748-0130.If a recipient does not have a Medicaid card or does not know his or her recipient I.D. number, providers or recipients can call and get the number.A provider can call the Alabama Medicaid Automated Voice Response System at 800-727-7848, choose the eligibility prompt, input the provider number and then ask for the recipient's Social Security number.A recipient can call the Alabama Medicaid Recipient Call Center at 1-800-362-1504 and give his or her Social Security number.A provider also can log onto the secure Alabama Medicaid Web Portal and perform an eligibility search. Providers can get portal help from the Electronic Media Claims Helpdesk at 800-456-1242.

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